Counting machines for coins and similar flat bodies



E. RElS 2,746,464 COUNTING MACHINES FOR COINS AND SIMILAR FLAT BODIES May 22, 1956 Filed Sept. 28, 1951 ZIz?/v can/TOD Eu United States Patent COUNTING MACHINES FOR COINS AND SIMILAR FLAT BODIES Eugen Reis, Bruchsai, Germany Application September 28, 1951, Serial No. 248,750 Claims priority, application Germany January 10, 1951 Claims. (Cl. 133-3) This invention relates to a counting machine for coins and similar fiat bodies. Machines are known, in which the coins are used for driving a counting mechanism; the coins are conveyed along by the rolling friction of a friction wheel and impart motion to a star-shaped counting wheel which co-operates with the counting mechanism. A further feature of such machines is that after a predetermined, set number of coins has been reached, the passage of coins through the machine is automatically blocked, whilst the motor continues to run.

These known machines have the disadvantage that in spite of the interruption of the passage of the coins, there will still be a coin under the small driving rubber wheel, with the result that, owing to the motor continuing to run, the rubber wheel will continuously rub on the coin and become rapidly worn. A further disadvantage of these known machines is, that the whole of the mechanism and the motor are subjected to considerable stresses through the sudden interruption of the coin supply. As the motor continues to run during the period of the removal and closing of the completed rolls and during the making and placing in position of the fresh paper cases, it consumes current and makes a continuous noise which is very disturbing, when several counting machines are in operation.

To avoid these disadvantages and at the same time to simplify the mechanism and increase its accuracy is the object of the present invention. According to the invention it is therefore proposed to provide a single bolt adapted to be slid from an operative position into an inoperative position and vice versa, and mechanical means co-operating with said bolt in such a manner that when the bolt is in the operative position the star-shaped counting wheel rotated by the coins and driving the counting mechanism is free to rotate, the coins are permitted to move along a guideway, a toothed wheel for adjusting the number of coins which are to pass through before the machine is stopped is permitted to rotate in one direction only, and an electric driving motor is switched on, whereas when the bolt is in the inoperative position the counting wheel is locked against rotation, movement of coins along the guideway is prevented, the toothed wheel is left free to rotate in either direction, and the motor is switched off. Through this constructional arrangement of the machine the following operations are controlled by the movement of a single constructional part:

1. The star-shaped counting wheel is released or locked;

2. Movement of coins along the guideway is permitted or prevented;

3. The toothed wheel is prevented from rotating in one direction, or set free to rotate in either direction;

4. The driving motor is switched on or off.

The fact that these four operations are simultaneously controlled by the movement of a single member ensures entirely satisfactory functioning of the machine. A special advantage of the invention is that the motor is switched off both after the number of coins, to which the machine has been adjusted, has been reached and 2,746,464 Patented May 22, 1956 also whenever the machine is stopped by manual intervention. This avoids unnecessary wear and stresses, and also prevents the machine from making a noise when it is idle.

A constructional example of the invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a view of the locking and releasing device;

Fig. 2 a view of the counting mechanism and of the device for dealing with larger numbers of coins;

Fig. 3 a cross-section on line AB of Fig. 2.

On a shaft 1 a cylindrical body 2 is fixed. On the side of the machine facing away in Fig. 1 there is connected with the shaft 1, as will be seen by referring to Fig. 2, a star-shaped counting wheel 3 which has for instance five points and the sides of which are not straight, but concave to fit the shape of the coins. On the shaft 1 is also mounted a bevel wheel 4 which meshes with a bevel wheel 5 driving the counting mechanism. The cylindrical body 2 is provided with a cog 6 which is in engagement with a toothed wheel 7. There is also provided on the cylindrical body 2 a pin 8, of which the function and manner of operation will be described later.

The toothed wheel 7 is mounted so as to be freely rotatable on a hollow shaft 9, round which passes a tension spring 10 which tends to turn the toothed wheel 7 in a counter-clockwise direction with reference to the drawing. On this toothed wheel 7 is also a pin 11. Through the hollow shaft 9 extends a shaft 12, on which is keyed a stop lever 13. On the end of the shaft 12 opposite to that shown in Fig. 1 there is mounted an adjusting crank handle (not shown), by means of which the shaft 12 and stop lever 13 can be rotated to any desired position.

One part of the periphery of the toothed wheel 7 is provided with concave spur teeth 14, in which the cog 6 of the cylindrical body 2 engages whilst another part of the periphery of the toothed wheel 7 is provided with ratchet teeth 15, in which a pawl 17 acted on by a tension spring 16 engages.

A bolt 18 is provided with elongated holes and/ or slots 19, 20 by means of which it is supported on pins 21, 22 so as to be longitudinally slidable on said pins. The bolt 1% has at one end a pin 23 and at the other end a stop plate 24 which coacts with the pin 8 of the cylindrical body 2. The bolt member 18 is also slidably and pivotally connected to a rocking lever 25 which rocks about a pivot 25' and coacts with the pawl 17 and with a switch 27 for an electric motor. There is also fixed to the lefthand end of the bolt 18 a lug 4% which moves in a slot of the front casing wall, which slot extends into a guideway along which coins are conveyed by means driven by the electric motor. To the bolt 13 is also attached a tension spring 41 which tends to displace the bolt member 18 to the left. There is also pivoted to the bolt 18 a starting lever 30 which is mounted to rock about a pivot 29 and of which the free end projects out of the casing (not shown) of the counting machine. The starting lever 39 is acted on by a tension spring 31 which tends to turn the lever in a clockwise direction in the drawing. A handle lever 32 is pivotally mounted, at one end, on the pivot 29. A tension spring 33 acts on the other end of the handle lever 32, and this other end is also provided with a handle 34 for stopping the machine by hand. A rod 35 is pivotally connected at one end to the lever 32 and at the other end to a pawl lever 36 pivoted at 37. One end of the pawl lever 36 coacts with the pin 11 on the toothed wheel 7, whilst the other end coacts with the pin 23 on the bolt 18.

The mode of operation of the machine is as follows:

Let it be assumed, that the adjusting crank handle (not shown) and the stop lever 13 rigidly connected to it, are set to the number 50. The position of these two parts will not alter after a number has been set, as the adjusting crank engages in holes in the casing. The machine with this setting will count 50 coins each time. Fig. 1 shows the machine in the operative position. As the coins move along the guideway, the star-shaped wheel 3 is turned and consequently each separate coin is counted in the counting mechanism 51 (Fig. 2). As the starshaped counting wheel 3 has five points, but only one cog 6 is provided on the cylindrical body rigidly connected with the counting wheel 3, after every fifth coin the toothed wheel 7 will be rotated in a clockwise direction through an angle equal to the angular interval be tween two adjacent spur teeth. By engaging each time in the ratchet teeth 15 the pawl 17 prevents the toothed wheel 7 from being turned back by the tension spring 10. As the toothed wheel 7 rotates the pin 11 moves. At the start of each counting operation this pin bears, owing to the tension of the spring 10, against the lever 13. After the passage of the 45th coin, the pin 11 comes to rest just above the rear end of the pawl lever 36 as shown in the drawing. On the 50th coin passing through, the toothed wheel with its pin 11 will be turned through an angle corresponding to one tooth interval and the pin 11 will force the rear end of the pawl lever 36 downwards. The forward end of the pawl lever 36 will thereby be forced upwards, the pin 23 of the bolt member 18 being freed from the pawl lever 36 as shown in the drawing. The bolt 18 is thereby displaced to the left under the action of its tension spring 41, taking with it the stop plate 24 which is fixed to it and against which the pin 8 of the cylindrical body 2 then strikes so that the cylindrical body 2 and the counting wheel 3 rigid therewith can no longer be turned. Furthermore, through the displacement of the bolt member 18 to the left the lug 40 is displaced to the left so far that it projects into the guideway and prevents any further movement of the coins.

Simultaneously with the displacement of the bolt 18 to the left the rocking lever 25 which is pivotally connected to it so as to turn freely is turned in a clockwise direction, so that an upper extension of the lever 25 it engages under the pin 28 of the pawl 17 and lifts it out of engagement with the toothed wheel 7, whereby the toothed wheel 7 is released and is turned under the action of the tension spring in a counterclockwise direction, until the pin 71 strikes against the stop lever 13.

Simultaneously with the turning of the lever 25 in a clockwise direction the free end of a plate 26, which is fixed to said lever and acts on a contact pin 27" of the switch 27, is moved downwards thereby allowing the contact pin 27 to move downwards under the action of a compression spring 27, breaking the contact at 26 and 26", so that the motor stops.

When the machine is to be started up for counting the next 50 coins, all that is required is to depress the starting lever 30, causing the bolt 18 to be pushed to the r1ght again. The stop plate 24 is thereby also displaced to the right out of the path of the pin 8, so that the shaft 1 becomes free to rotate again. At the same time the lug 40 is moved to the right out of the guideway and ceases to prevent movement of the coins in the guideway. The lever 25 is also turned in a counterclockwise direction, causing the pawl 17 under the action of the tension spring 16 to engage in the ratchet teeth of the toothed wheel 7 which is thereby prevented from turning in a counterclockwise direction. Simultaneously with the rotation of the lever 25 the plate 26 is also rotated in a counterclockwise direction and pushes the pin 27 of the switch 27 upwards so as to close the contact 26, 26 and start the motor. At the same time the end of the pawl lever 36 and nearest to the pin 23 is forced downwards by the tension spring 33 acting through the handle lever 32 and the rod 35. The said end of the pawl lever 36 engages the pin 23 of the bolt member 18, causing the latter to be held in position against the action of the spring 41.

The counting of the coins can, however, be interrupted at any moment. For this purpose the handle 34 is pushed downwards, causing the rod 35 to press on the rearward end of the pawl lever 36, whilst the forward end is lifted. In consequence the bolt 18 is released and slides to the left, whereby the counting wheel 3 is prevented from rotating, the guideway is blocked, the pawl 17 is disengaged from the toothed wheel 7 and the motor is switched off.

The setting of the machine for the counting of large numbers of coins, as required for filling bags, is effected directly at the counting mechanism 51. For this purpose, after the pawl 17 has been lifted out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 16 so that the pin 11 bears against the stop lever 13 under the action of the tension spring 10, the shaft 12 and stop lever 13 are rotated by hand in a counterclockwise direction so as to allow the tension spring 10 to rotate the toothed wheel 7 into a position in which a tooth-free portion 7' of its periphery is opposite the cylindrical body 2 and its cog 6, so that this cog cannot rotate the wheel 7, which is thus rendered inoperative. This applies to such numbers as 500, 1000, 2000 coins. In the counting mechanism are the wheels for units, tens, hundreds and thousands, which are coupled together in a known manner. The knob 65 serves the purpose of returning all the numeral wheels to the number zero.

To the hundreds wheel 52 is fixed a disc 53 which behind the numeral four has a recess 70. To the thousands wheel 54 are fixed two discs 55 and 56, each with a recess 70, the recess of the disc 55 being hehind the numeral zero and the recess 70 of the disc 56 behind the numeral one. Levers 57 are mounted above the discs 53, 55 and 56 so as to pivot about a shaft 58. The rear ends of these levers extend underneath the end of the pawl lever 36 nearest the pin 23 and are attached to tension springs 59 tending to lift said rear ends, whilst the forward ends are positioned above the periphery of the discs 53, 55, 56. In the casing walls 60, 61 there is also rotatably supported a shaft 62, the knob 63 of which is marked with the numerals 0, 500, 1000, 2000. The shaft 62 has three slots, one opposite each lever 57. These slots are so arranged on the shaft 62 that for instance when the device is set to 500, a slot in the shaft 62 will be in position to accommodate the lever 57 corresponding to the disc 53, so that when the hundreds wheel 52 is turned from the numeral 4 to the numeral 5, the lever 57 can engage in the recess 70 in the disc 53, whereas the two other levers 57 are prevented from descending by unslotted parts of the shaft 62.

When the device is set to 1000 or 2000, respectively, only the middle lever 57, or that furtherest to the left, can drop into a corresponding recess 70 of disc 55, or 56. When the device is set to Zero all the levers 57 are prevented from moving by unslotted parts of the shaft 62, that is, the whole cut out arrangement of the main counter is out of action.

When the number set for, for instance 1000, is reached, the lever 57 will under the action of its spring 59 drop into the recess 70 of the disc 55, the rear end of the lever 57 forcing the pawl lever 36 upwards out of engagement with the pin 23 on the bolt 18 which consequently moves to the left under the action of its tension spring 41, whereby further movement of the coins in the guideway is prevented, the counting wheel is locked against rotation and the motor is switched off.

Between the casing walls 60, 61 there is also mounted a semi-cylindrical shaft 66, at the free end of which is a lever 64. When the knob 65 is raised to set the counter to Zero, the knob 65 will force the lever 64 and the shaft 66 round so as to lift the levers 57, and the numeral wheels can be set to zero.

What I claim is:

1. In a counting machine for coins and similar fiat bodies, in combination a counting mechanism, a guide- 15. U way, means for conveying coins along the guideway, an electric motor adapted to drive said means, a star-shaped counting wheel adapted to be driven by the coins conveyed along the guideway and to drive the counting mechanism, a shaft rigid with the counting wheel, a cylindrical body coaxial and rigid with said shaft and provided with an eccentrically arranged pin extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the shaft, a slidably mounted bolt having at one end a stop plate adapted to arrest the pin on the cylindrical body and a lug adapted to arrest the movement of the coins in the guideway, and at the other end a pin, a tension spring adapted to act on the bolt, a pawl lever pivoted at its centre and having an end adapted to arrest the pin on the bolt, a rocking lever pivoted at its centre and having one end operatively connected to the bolt, a switch adapted to break the circuit of the electric motor, a compression spring adapted to act on the switch to turn the motor off, a plate rigid with the end of the rocking lever remote from the bolt, said plate being adapted to hold the switch in the closed position against the action of the compression spring, a manually operable starting lever operatively connected to the bolt and adapted to move the bolt against the action of its tension spring, a toothed wheel provided with a pin adapted to depress the end of the pawl lever remote from the pin on the bolt to lift the other end thereof clear of the pin on the bolt, said toothed wheel having concave spur teeth on a part of its periphery and ratchet teeth on another part thereof, a cog projecting from the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical body and adapted to engage the spur teeth and rotate the toothed wheel, a tension spring adapted to rotate the toothed wheel in the opposite direction, a spring-actuated pawl adapted to engage the ratchet teeth to prevent the toothed wheel from being rotated by its tension spring while allowing it to be rotated by the cog, a pin on the pawl, an extension on the rocking lever adapted to engage the pin on the pawl and lift the pawl clear of the ratchet 6 teeth, a manually operable stop lever pivoted about the axis of rotation of the toothed wheel and adapted to be secured in any required PGaltiOIl and to arrest the pin on the toothed wheel, and a spring adapted to raise the end of the pawl lever remote from the pin on the bolt.

2. in a counting machine as claimed in claim 1, manually operable means adapted to depress the end of the pawl lever remote from the pin on the bolt.

3. A counting machine as claimed in claim 2, in which said manually operable means comprise a lever pivoted at one end and provided with a handle at the other, and a rod pivotally connected at one end to the said lever and at the other end to the end of the pawl lever remote from the pin on the bolt.

4. A counting machine as claimed in claim 1, in which a further part of the periphery of the toothed wheel is free from teeth.

5. A counting machine as claimed in claim 4, in which the counting mechanism comprises wheels inscribed with numerals and adapted to indicate units, tens, hundreds and thousands, a disc rigid with the wheel indicating hundreds and two discs rigid with the wheel indicating thousands, each of said discs being provided with a recess, pivoted levers each having one end extending underneath the end of the pawl lever adjacent to the pin on the bolt, springs adapted to raise said ends of said levers, the other end of each of said levers being adapted to bear downwardly against the edge of one of said discs and to descend into the recess thereof, means adapted to prevent all except a selected one of said levers from moving, and further means adapted to prevent any of said levers from moving.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

